Prattville man pleads guilty to manslaughter in child's death

WETUMPKA – A Prattville man has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in the beating death on an Elmore County child.

David Michael Carr, 24, entered the guilty plea to manslaughter Monday morning, courthouse records show. At the time, juries were being struck for the week's upcoming criminal trials in Elmore County Circuit Court. Carr was indicted on murder charges in the April 2011 beating death of Sarah Lowery, 3, courthouse records show.

Carr's attorney, Kenny James, of Wetumpka, did not return phone calls placed to his office seeking comment for this story. The prosecution is recommending a sentence of 15 years and a day, as part of the agreement, said C.J. Robinson, chief assistant district attorney. Circuit Judge Sibley Reynolds will sentence Carr July 31, records show. The length of the recommended sentence is not random, said District Attorney Randall Houston.

"Anything over 15 years and he isn't eligible for good time," Houston said. "We want him to remain in prison for a long time and this sentence does that. We are satisfied with the deal. It was a horrible case.

"But Mr. Carr was 20 at the time. That in no way excuses what he did, but anytime you have a case with young victims and young defendants, it is difficult."

Sarah's family approved the plea bargain, Robinson said.

Sarah was the child of Carr's then girlfriend, he is not the father, Houston said. He was watching the child on April 20, 2011 in the 800 block of Deatsville Highway in Millbrook, police reports show. He reported to authorities that Sarah had been injured in a fall. She died April 24, 2011 at Childen's Hospital in Birmingham.

Autopsy reports show she died of blunt force trauma, which caused brain swelling. The reports also show she had been beaten about the legs and hips.

Carr has been out of a $90,500 bond. When he was in court Monday, a check showed he had outstanding traffic tickets in Autauga County, Robinson said. He was placed in custody until he clears up those tickets, Robinson said. Once the tickets are paid, he will be released on the bond until sentencing, Robinson said.